Pasadena Tarot

What is Tarot?

The tarot is a deck of 78 cards with a long history of being used as a tool for divination. There is no specific religion connected with the tarot. Tarot is suitable for any lifestyle choice, it does not discriminate. Each card has innate meanings and I utilize those yet I also use intuition to discern what meanings are pertinent to each client. With tarot I make make connections and help clients with both large and small life issues.

Read on for some details and history!

What is the Origin of Tarot?

Originally, in 15th Century Italy (possibly earlier) the decks were used for a game somewhat like bridge. The decks, like other playing decks, contained number cards 1-10 in four suits each with a page, a knight, and a king, we call these the Minor Arcana or Pip cards. Tarot decks were different than regular playing decks and contained 22 extra cards, which we term the Major Arcana. The Major Arcana were picture cards with titles like, The Moon, The Sun, The Pope, The Wheel of Fortune, common archetypes in 15th Century Society. The art of using the deck for divination developed in both secret and less than secret social ways. Napoleon and Josephine made use of a cartomancer, card reader, and paintings from the subsequent centuries (16th / 17th) depict readings being given to heads of state and holy men of the catholic church. Tarot has never been mainstream but is has been and continues to be used by mainstream individuals. For alternate sources and more detailed information about the History of Tarot, click here or, click here.

What is a Tarot Reading?

A Reader helps a client to have a clear question or category from where the reading will start. Any issue may be explored with the tarot, and each reading is as individual as each client.

I use the entire deck of 78 cards for your reading. Some readers use only the 22 Major Arcana cards. I find

it important to discover which issues bring up the major cards and which bring up the minor. There are many

levels to every reading, and I feel it important to be open to all those levels. Rachel Pollack has called the tarot deck 78 Degrees of Wisdom. I prefer to listen to all those degrees. I look at reversals, elemental diginities, numerology, astrologly and other issues relating to each card in each reading.

I will offer a short example of how tarot can help with Relationship issues.

A client may ask:

Why is my relationship so painful and difficult?

Even just three cards can be an enlightening start.

Card One: Who are you in the relationship, what is your role?

Card Two: Who is your partner in the relationship, what is their role?

Card Three: What is the relationship, what is its role?

Imagine the client has pulled these cards:

Card 1 : The Empress. In a basic sense, The Mother figure,

nurturing, able, committed, and with direction.

This a major arcana card. This card in this position

for this reading may be saying that the client carries

more power in the relationship.

Card 2: The Knight of Wands. In a basic sense, an immature

and unreliable figure, passion ruled, noncommittal.

This is a minor arcana card. Think of what it may mean

that a minor card has shown up to depict this person.

Card 3 : The Seven of Pentacles. In a basic sense, working on

something that is possibly not rewarding or that takes a

long time to become rewarding. This is a minor arcana card.

What a different message a major card would have given!

You can see how in just three cards the situation becomes very interesting!

There is a clarity in card three concerning how the relationship has been created.

One partner mothers, the other is the mothered partner who does not have to claim responsibility!

This sort of awareness is empowering. It allows either partner to consider their role. Altering a role is your choice entirely. You may be very happy as the Empress or the Knight of Wands. Alternately you may find your role no longer fulfilling and you can create a plan for change.

Further cards can be pulled to answer questions such as:

1) What is the best outcome for the relationship as it stands?

2) How might the relationship alter if I alter my role in it?

3) How might my partner react if I alter my role?

4) What do I get from the relationship?

5) What do I need from the relationship?

6) How can I get what I need?

7) What is my lesson in this relationship?

8) What is the highest potential of this relationship at this time?

9) Any question can be explored! The reading expands according to the client's needs.